In this episode of the Day One Patch Podcast, we kick things off with a Video Game Fun Fact all about the Pocket Pikachu, Nintendo’s quirky pedometer-based handheld companion from the late ’90s.

We then break down Call of Duty’s latest move to restore its grounded identity by cutting carry-forward skins in Black Ops 7. Treyarch says it’s about keeping the game “immersive and visceral,” but fans are divided after losing their crossover cosmetics. We also look at Microsoft and Asus’ surprising decision to announce the ROG Xbox Ally X release date—without revealing its price—blaming shifting “macro-economic” conditions.

In Query Corner Lite, we cover Larian Studios’ sharp criticism of the gaming industry, pointing to ballooning budgets, long dev cycles, and publishers playing it safe instead of taking risks.